Parsippany-area residents invited to rain barrel workshop

Jul. 6, 2013

Written by

@MeghanVanDykDR

Rain barrels are an easy way to conserve water and reduce stormwater pollution.

The Troy Brook Watershed and Rutgers Cooperative Extension are partnering to present a rain barrel workshop from 6 to 8 p.m. on July 9 at Veterans Memorial Park in Parsippany.

For a $10, residents in the Troy Brook watershed — Parsippany, Mountain Lakes and the Rainbow Lakes section of East Hanover — will receive materials and learn to assemble the rain barrel, said Pat Rector, environmental and resource management agent with the Rutgers Cooperative Extension.

“We have done modeling studies so we know that along with helping residents to save water, using rain barrels on the downspout that does to the driveway can also help reduce pollution in our streams,” Rector said.

Len Cipkins of the Troy Brook Watershed. Cipkins said he has two rain barrels on his property from which he sources water for his garden and plants.

The program is funded through the state Department of Environmental Protection, out of the Federal Clean Water Act 319 funding.

A new chief at Morristown National Historical Park

There’s a new superintendent at Morristown National Historical Park. Thomas E. Ross was named superintendent last week of the park and Thomas Edison National Historical Parks. Ross, who has been superintendent at Sagamore Hill National Historic Site since 2007, assumes his new post on Sept. 8.

Ross replaces former Superintendent Jill Hawk who earlier this year accepted a leadership position at the National Park Service Law Enforcement Training Center in Georgia.

"Tom brings strong and consistent experience with community engagement and successful partnerships,” said Dennis Reidenbach, National Park Service Northeast regional director, in a news release. “His willingness to experiment and apply creativity to historic sites will be a great benefit to two parks that truly represent perseverance and innovation.”

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In his role as superintendent of Sagamore Hill, Ross madeprogress in improving the park’s infrastructure, including road re-paving, collections conservation, and historic building rehabilitation. He has ensured strong partnerships to support the park including working with many community groups.

"I am honored to serve at these two great parks, Morristown and Edison, which speak so clearly to that great American spirit of liberty, perseverance, ingenuity and invention,” Ross said. "I look forward to working with the community, park partners, volunteers and staff at both parks in continuing the work of preserving and interpreting these very special places."

Sustainable Jersey school certification program launched

Sustainable Jersey and the New Jersey School Boards Associatio are launcing a voluntary sustainability certification program called “Sustainable Jersey for Schools,” designed specifically for New Jersey’s traditional public school districts and public charter schools.

Sustainable Jersey for Schools will provide guidance and resources to schools on developing comprehensive sustainability programs, according to a news release. Participating schools will earn points for certain actions, such as performing energy audits, establishing sustainability curriculum, and boosting recycling efforts. The program will help schools improve efficiency, cut waste and contribute to students’ education in the key areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, often referred to as “STEM education.”

To develop the program content and certification framework for Sustainable Jersey for Schools, NJSBA and Sustainable Jersey will build a comprehensive coalition of educational organizations and academic, business and state agency partners. After a July 22 kick-off meeting at The College of New Jersey, working groups, representing the various partners, will define the program standards and actions that would advance schools toward certification.

“Partnering with NJSBA is another step forward in our goal to make a measurable impact on the future sustainability of our state,” said Donna Drewes, co-director of Sustainable Jersey. “Sustainable Jersey for Schools will provide a greater reach into our communities while offering our state’s 2,500 public schools resources to help them attain significant environmental, academic, financial and health benefits.”